Crossmember for a Vehicle Dashboard Provided with a Reinforcing Back Brace Made of a Fibrous Composite

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle dashboard crossmember (2) including a crossbar which extends lengthwise along a generatrix line (G) that is directed substantially along the width of the vehicle body and transversely relative to the direction of travel of said vehicle, as well as at least one connection flange (3, 4) designed to enable said crossbar (2) to be attached to said body, said crossbar (2) consisting, over at least a portion of the length thereof, of a load-bearing web (10) that has a side wall (11) rounded about said generatrix line (G) so as to have, in a cross-section perpendicular to the generatrix line, a first arm (12) and a second arm (13) that are connected to one another via a common connection portion (14) and which thus define a cavity (15), and of a reinforcing brace (20) made of a fibrous composite material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT / EP2013 / 061389, which was filed Jun. 3, 2013 and which claims the priority to French application 1255343 filed on Jun. 7, 2012 the content (text, drawings and claims) of which is incorporated here by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the general domain of crossmembers used in vehicle construction, and more specifically to crossmembers which are mounted to the vehicle body, transverse to the drive direction, to provide means for mounting the dashboard of the vehicle as well as various accessories such as climate control unit, steering column, fuse box, glove compartment, etc.[0003]It is known that crossmembers generally comprise a crossbar made of steel tubing which extends between two mounting flanges securing the bar to the body of the vehicle, and which is usually also supported by a central strut attached to the floor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]Advantageously, the crossmember combines the light weight of a hollow carrier core with the structural strength of tubing with relatively large volume, due to the reinforcement provided by the reinforcing back brace which stabilizes the branches of the core, and in this way significantly improves the resistance of the assembly against flexion, torsion, impact and buckling.

[0013]Advantageously, the use of a brace of fibrous composite material, preferably with a polymer matrix, provides excellent mechanical properties, and specifically great robustness and high rigidity, by means of a material which is relatively light, less dense and generally lighter than a metallic alloy, which results in a lighter crossmember assembly.

[0014]In addition, this composite material is undeniably easy to form, so that its use in the method ac

Problems solved by technology

Although known crossmembers generally perform satisfactorily, particularly because of their rigidity, they may nevertheless have some drawbacks.

Their fabrication may require particularly heavy, cumbersome and costly tooling, including for instance shear presses and welding machines, as well as stamping presses specially equipped with the necessary punches and dies.

In addition, the relativ

Images